6 March Performance Picks From Our Editors

March 5, 2019


A feast of Forsythe, a surfeit of Dorrance Dance, a challenge to how we perceive refugees. Our editors’ performance picks this month run the gamut.

Boston’s Mixtape Master

BOSTON
Halfway into his five-year partnership with Boston Ballet, William Forsythe is gifting East Coast audiences with his first new work for an American company since 1992. Playlist (EP) expands on ideas from Playlist (Track 1, 2), a short work he created for English National Ballet last spring. Also on Boston Ballet’s Full on Forsythe program: the U.S. premiere of Blake Works I, the 2016 debut of which was hailed by The New York Times as “a moment as important as the premiere of Mr. Forsythe’s ‘In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated,’ ” and a reprisal of his Pas/Parts 2018. March 7–17. bostonballet.org. —Courtney Escoyne

Fleeing Made Visible

Zahra Saleki, Courtesy Jaberi Dance Theatre

PETERBOROUGH AND TORONTO
We hear about the growing number of refugees, but most of us do not see them or the lives they lead. Iranian-Canadian choreographer Roshanak Jaberi and her Toronto-based interdisciplinary group Jaberi Dance Theatre delve into refugee women’s lives in No Woman’s Land, showing us their hardships and their strengths. March 9–10, Market Hall Theatre in Peterborough; March 14–16, Harbourfront Centre Theatre in Toronto. jaberidt.com. —Wendy Perron

Two By Eight

Regina Brocke, Courtesy Freie PR

STUTTGART
What’s a company to do if it wants to commission eight new works, but the choreographers are too busy to come to the company? Gauthier Dance’s answer: Send the dancers to the dancemakers. Nacho Duato, Marco Goecke, Mauro Bigonzetti, Richard Siegal, Rui Horta, Ed Wubbe, Roni Haver and Guy Weizman, and Barak Marshall all contributed new pas de deux to Deuces. After being created all over Europe, the program comes together at Gauthier Dance’s home, Theaterhaus Stuttgart, March 16–24. theaterhaus.com. —CE

Queering the Kingdom

The NWA Project in Oba Qween Baba King Baba, Excerpt #1

Ian Douglas, Courtesy Danspace Project

NEW YORK CITY
Gender nonconforming dancemaker Ni’Ja Whitson’s Oba Qween Baba King Baba interrogates masculinity and how it impacts our perception of religion. This interdisciplinary work takes inspiration from the stories of queer and transgender children of preachers. On March 23, Danspace Project will host a free preview of the work for self-identified queer and transgender people of color. March 28–30. danspaceproject.org. —CE

A Match Made in Heaven

Mearns in a Bergasse-choreographed piece at Fire Island Dance Festival
Whitney Browne, Courtesy KPM Associates

NEW YORK CITY When Vera Zorina starred in the original 1938 production of I Married an Angel—Rodgers and Hart’s musical comedy about a wealthy banker who weds a guileless angel—the choreography was handled by none other than her then-husband George Balanchine. Who better, then, to headline and choreograph New York City Center’s revival than newlywed super couple Sara Mearns and Joshua Bergasse? March 20–24. nycitycenter.org. —CE

A Heaping Dose of Dorrance Dance

Dorrance Dance in Michelle Dorrance’s Jungle Blues

Dana Lynn Pleasant, Courtesy New York City Center

NEW YORK CITY
A surfeit of Dorrance Dance is coming our way, with three programs at New York City Center. Michelle Dorrance’s innovative works, old and new, will be interspersed with contributions from guest artists. Master tap dancer Brenda Bufalino brings her jazzy Jump Monk. A premiere by America’s greatest tapping clown, Bill Irwin, is bound to be the most fun Harlequin & Pantalone you’ve ever seen. March 28–30. nycitycenter.org. —WP